People of all ages gathered in Princes St Gardens to send a message in their thousands to several dozen Scottish fascists who came to Edinburgh looking for trouble. The event took place on February 20th, and saw political leaders of all major parties setting aside their differences to condemn Fascism and Racism. The march and rally was organised by Scotland United, a branch of Unite Against Fascism, and supported by a range of politicial parties, the STUC and various unions and student bodies.

Left <<<:The Unite Against Fascism banner arrives.
Right >>>: Aamer Anwar opens the rally.
The Scottish Defence League, an offshoot of the racist English Defence League has been trying to spread hatred and racial tension throughout the UK. Thousands have organised around England and Scotland, over the last few months to oppose Fascism and show support for Multiculturalism. February 20th was Edinburgh's turn.

Lothian & Borders Police kettled several dozen SDL trouble makers in a few bars near Edinburgh's Waverley station, while two thousand people gathered to march through Edinburgh to show how firmly their rascist ideology is unwelcome in Scotland.
The police invoked the Public Order Act to forbid the SCL from marching and bused them out of town.

It was very striking to see politicians who battle hard against each other for the future of Scotland in the Scottish Parliament - Iain Gray, Scottish Labour leader and Kenny MacAskill, sharing a platform with controversial Lib Dem SNP Council leader, Jenny Dawe, and a young Tory hopeful.

Other speakers included Weyman Bennett, chair of UAF, Osama Saeed of the Scottish Islamic Foundation and SNP candidate for Glasgow Central, Aamer Anwar from Scotland United, Shami Khan Chair of ELREC, Dave Moxham from the Scottish TUC, the Rev Iain Galloway of the Church of Scotland, Liam Burns, president of the Scottish National Union of Students, and Donny Gluckstein from the EIS lecturers union. It was also striking to see the number of students who turned out to show their loathing of fascism.